Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard Because there has been very little snow, some Central New York highway departments have been doing work normally done in warmer weather. Town of Geddes highway department workers Erik Grobsmith (left) and Raymond Loyd on Monday repair a catch basin on Nicks Way in Lakeland.

This article written by staff writers Sarah Moses and John Mariani

Municipal officials across Central New York say the lack of snowfall so far this winter has meant big savings for the taxpayers.

Local villages, towns, cities and counties are saving tens of thousands of dollars and in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars because the lack of snow has kept snow plows and crews off the roads.

By Jan. 10 last winter, 83.8 inches of snow had fallen — this year the total was 12.9 inches by the same date. Central New York averages about 50 inches by Jan. 10, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s outstanding,” said Salina Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra. “But we always budget for worst case scenario, because it’s Central New York and if you wait 5 minutes the weather will change.”

Nicotra said plows have not been out as much as this time last year, which saves on salt and overtime costs. Salina saved about $65,000 from the 2011-snow removal budget, in large part to a nearly snow-free November and December, Nicotra said.

In many towns, highway work crews are taking advantage of the nice weather.

“We’re able to do repairs that we typically do in early spring or late fall,” said Geddes Town Supervisor Manny Falcone.

Cicero Highway Superintendent Christopher Woznica said crews have been out filling potholes when typically they would be out plowing roads this time of year.

Woznica said the town has used and purchased less salt than last year, but he’s not banking on cost savings until winter is over.

“Ask me about it and I’ll let you know in April,” he said.

The city of Syracuse saved $71,235.12 in overtime spending in December 2011 compared to December 2010.

The Syracuse DPW also has used 9,514 fewer tons of salt in November and December than during the same two months in 2010. The result is a savings of $378,206.

Counties also are experiencing budget savings.

Oswego County came in $400,000 under budget for snow removal in 2011.

County Administrator Philip Church said how the 2012 snow removal budget will fare is yet to be seen. There are two winter seasons in each year’s snow removal budget — the months at the beginning of the year and the months at the end — and that makes it difficult to estimate what costs will be.

Actual contract costs with Oswego County’s 22 towns for plowing county roads varied significantly in the last five years from a low of $1.6 million in 2006 to $3.3 million in 2008.

Onondaga County saved $150,000 in overtime costs for snow removal in 2011 between the end of last winter and the nearly snowless start of this season, Transportation Commissioner Brian J. Donnelly said.

DOT had less luck with the road-salt bill, he said. The department spent $250,000 to $300,000 less on salt than officials planned for from September through the end of 2011. But the early months of winter 2010-11 were so brutal that DOT had to ask the legislature to spend $300,000 more on salt than originally budgeted. The result was no salt savings for 2011, he said.

Madison County Highway Superintendent Joe Wisinski said the county has seen a significant decrease in labor costs and material usage so far this winter.

Wisinski said last year’s budget projections were on target for the record-breaking accumulation. He expects to see the same by the end of this winter season.

“Every year has a different pattern to it,” he said. “You have lows and highs. It always balances out somehow.”

Auburn Superintendent of Public Works Mike Talbot agrees that it’s too early to count on savings for this winter.